Part 1 shows how to choose a frame on the St Ives Frames page. Part 2 shows how to set it up on the frame's own page, using the 45mm Barefaced Tray as the example.
Example board: 500 × 400mm. Recorded 18 October 2026.
Part 1: Choosing a St Ives frame
A St Ives frame is a stepped, box-like frame with a flat panel that leads the eye to the painting. It's made for canvas boards, aluminium panels and other rigid artwork between 2mm and 5mm thick, and comes without glass, so the texture of your painting stays on show. This part explains the two fitting styles, how to enter your board size, and the links under every frame.
1. The two fitting styles
Every St Ives frame can be fitted in one of two ways. You choose the style on the frame's own page, but the drawing at the top of this page, Anatomy of a St Ives frame, shows both: click Modern float or Traditional inlay above it and the drawing changes.
Modern float
- Your board rests on top of the frame's inner section, with about 5mm overhang all round.
- Its edges are on show, so it appears to float above the frame.
- It's held on with strong double-sided tape or glue, which isn't supplied.
Traditional inlay
- Your board fits into the opening at the back of the frame, painted face up.
- The frame covers the edges of the board by about 5mm on each side.
- An MDF backing board and flexible points are included to hold it in.
2. Enter the exact size of your board
Measure the outside edges of your board to the nearest millimetre and enter that exact size. The frame is made to suit the size and the fitting style, with a small allowance built in, so there's nothing to add or take off.
- Leave Units on mm, and type 500 in Board width and 400 in Board height.
- The line under the heading confirms “To fit a 500 × 400mm board”, and every price updates.
Prices on this page are “from” prices, because the fitting style is chosen on each frame's page. At 500 × 400mm the 45mm barefaced tray is from £37.75.
As on the other frame pages, you can click inches (your size is converted to the nearest ⅛ inch, so 500 × 400mm becomes 19⅝ × 15¾") or popular to choose a standard board size from the list, such as 20 × 16" (508 × 406mm). For an exact fit, stay in mm.
There are no filters on this page: the 13 St Ives frames all show at once.
3. View profile, order a sample and compare
Each frame shows its “from” price and a Choose fitting style button, which opens its page. Under it are three links: Compare, Order sample and View profile.
- View profile opens a drawing of the frame's stepped cross-section. The 45mm trays are 45mm wide and 32mm deep, with a 21mm rebate at the back.
- Order sample adds a short length of the moulding to your basket (£2.16), so you can see the colour and finish first.
- Compare: tick it under up to four frames, then click Compare in the bar at the bottom of the screen. The frames are shown side by side, adding Total depth, Material, Finish and number of Colours. Back to all frames returns you to the full list.
4. Open your frame's page
Found the frame you want? Click its picture, or Choose fitting style, to open its page. The size you entered comes with you.
Ready? Carry on with Part 2 below.
Part 2: Customising your St Ives frame
How to use a St Ives frame's own page to check your size, choose your fitting style, preview your artwork, see each style in 3D, look at the corner, profile and frame sizes, add the tape a float fitting needs, check the specification, save or share the design and add it to your basket. The example is the 45mm Barefaced Tray.
1. Check your board size
The size you entered on the St Ives Frames page carries over, so Width and Height already show 500 and 400mm. Check them against your board, and type a new size if you need to.
Just below is the frame's rebate depth: “Rebate depth: 21mm (7/8"). The rebate at the back takes your board and an MDF backing board for a traditional inlay. It is not used for a float fitting.”
2. Choose your fitting style
Under Fitting style, choose Float or Traditional. Traditional is selected to start with. As on the list page, the drawing beside the buttons changes to show the style you've chosen, and so does the price:
- Traditional: £40.34 at 500 × 400mm, including the MDF backing board and flexible points.
- Float: £36.50, with hanging fixtures only.
Styles explained, under the buttons, opens a full comparison of the two styles, with how to measure your board.
3. Preview your artwork (optional)
- Under the preview, click Upload your artwork to preview it, or drag a file onto it. JPG, PNG or PDF files are accepted.
- A message explains it's a preview only: “WE DO NOT PRINT THE IMAGE.” Click I understand – upload image.
- Your picture now shows in the frame. Use Change image or Remove image under it if you need to.
This demo used a sample landscape graphic.
4. See each fitting style in 3D
Click 3D and AR above the preview. The model is made in the fitting style you've chosen, so you can compare them. Drag it round to see the back. To see the other style, choose it under Fitting style, then click Front and 3D and AR again.
- Float: from the front, your board sits on top of the frame's inner section with its edges showing. From the back you see the back of your board, held on with tape or glue.
- Traditional: from the front, the frame covers the edges of your board. From the back you see the MDF backing board, held in with flexible points.
On a phone or tablet, the same button lets you see the frame on your own wall in AR.
5. Corner, profile and frame sizes
- Corner: a close-up of the moulding, so you can see its colour and grain.
- Profile: the stepped cross-section, with its measurements.
- Frame sizes: the approximate sizes from the front. With a traditional inlay, the blue measurements, 490 × 390mm, are the area of your board you'll see: the frame overlaps it by about 5mm on each side. The outside of the frame is about 580 × 480mm.
The Frame sizes drawing shows the traditional inlay sizes, even with Float selected. In a float fitting all of your board shows, because it sits on top of the frame with its edges on show.
6. Add double-sided tape for a float fitting
A float fitting needs strong double-sided tape, or glue, to hold your board on the frame's inner section. It isn't supplied with the frame, so make sure you have some before your frame arrives. A traditional inlay doesn't need it: the MDF backing board and flexible points hold the board in.
With Float chosen, open Recommended extras: it offers a 10 metre roll of 9mm double-sided extra strong foam mounting tape for £3.00. Click Add: it changes to Added, and the price goes from £36.50 to £39.50.
7. Extras and the full specification
Scroll down to Useful extras: hangers, tapes, fixings and more, each added with one click.
Below them, check What's included and the Specification before you order. What's included depends on the style: hanging fixtures with both, plus the MDF backing board and flexible points with a traditional inlay. In this example (float style, with the tape) the specification read:
| Frame style | 544400000SI · 45mm Barefaced Tray |
|---|---|
| Frame size | 500 × 400mm (Float Style) |
| Included | Hanging fixtures only |
| Accessory | 9mm Double Sided Extra Strong Foam Mounting Tape × 10m |
| Face width | 45mm |
| Rebate depth | 21mm |
| Total depth | 32mm |
| Material / finish | Wood, unfinished |
With a traditional inlay, Frame size reads (Traditional Style) and Included reads MDF Backing Board and Hanging Fixtures.
8. Save design or email design
Under the price are two links for keeping or sharing your design.
- Save design adds it to your Design Gallery (“This design has been added to your Gallery”). You can type a title and click Update Title, open the gallery, or click Continue to carry on.
- Email design opens a form. Enter the recipient's email address, edit the personal message, type the verification word, then click Submit. It's useful for checking with someone before you order.
The email form was opened in this demo but nothing was sent.
9. Add to basket
Happy with everything? Click Add to basket. The confirmation names the fitting style: “Your £39.50 Custom St Ives Frame(Float) has been added to your basket.” From there, choose Continue, Basket or Checkout.
Screenshots taken on 18 October 2026. The orange outlines and labels were added for this guide and aren't part of the site. The demo stopped at the basket, and no order or email was sent. Prices may change.